Publisher's summary
Tens of thousands of years of ice is melting, and the land of Assail, long a byword for menace and inaccessibility, is at last yielding its secrets. Tales of gold discovered in the region's north circulate in every waterfront dive and sailor's tavern and now countless adventurers and fortune-seekers have set sail in search of riches. All these adveturers have to guide them are legends and garbled tales of the dangers that lie in wait -- hostile coasts, fields of ice, impassable barriers and strange, terrifying creatures. But all accounts concur that the people of the north meet all trespassers with the sword. And beyond are rumoured to lurk Elder monsters out of history's very beginnings. Into this turmoil ventures the mercenary company, the Crimson Guard. Not drawn by contract, but by the promise of answers: answers to mysteries that Shimmer, second in command, wonders should even be sought. Arriving also, part of an uneasy alliance of Malazan fortune-hunters and Letherii soldiery, comes the bard Fisher kel Tath. And with him is a Tiste Andii who was found washed ashore and who cannot remember his past life, yet who commands far more power than he really should. Also venturing north is said to be a mighty champion, a man who once fought for the Malazans, the bearer of a sword that slays gods: Whiteblade.
And lastly, far to the south, a woman guards the shore awaiting both her allies and her enemies. Silverfox, newly incarnated Summoner of the undying army of the T'lan Imass, will do anything to stop the renewal of an ages-old crusade that could lay waste to the entire continent and beyond. Casting light on mysteries spanning the Malazan Empire, and offering a glimpse of the storied and epic history that shaped it, Assail is the final chapter in the epic story of the Empire of Malaz.
Front Matter
Dedication
This one is for the old gaming gang at the University of
Manitoba:Doug and Doug, Jeff, Oliver, Grant, Ron,
Martin, Henry, Craig, Laurence, Neil, Shurjeel and Arne.
Acknowledgements
I wish to offer my gratitude to my advance readers for their
observations and comments, Sharon Sasaki and A. P. Canavan.
You helped more than you think.
I give my love to my wife, Gerri Brightwell, without whose
support and understanding, this novel, and those preceding it,
would never have been possible.
And to you Malaz readers. It has been a priveledge to unveil
these stories. I hope you have enjoyed them as much as I.
Maps
Dramatis Personae (as found in books)
- click here for extended Dramatis Personae
The Lady's Luck
- Kyle, Given name, Kylarral-ten, of Bael lands, south of Assail
- Tulan Orbed, Master of the Lady's Luck
- Reuth, Ship's navigator, and Tulan's nephew
- Storval, First Mate
- Gren, Steersman
In the North
- Orman, Son of Orman Bregin
- Old Bear, A legendary man of the mountains
- Keth and Kasson, The Reddin brothers
- Gerrun, Also known as Shortshanks
- King Ronal, Also known as 'King Ronal the Bastard'
- Lotji Bain, Nephew of Jorgan Bain
Of the Iceblood Holdings
The Sayers
- Buri, Legendary elder of the clan
- Jaochim, Master of the clan
- Yrain, Mistress of the clan
- Vala, Sister to Yrain
- Jass, son of Vala
- Bernal Heavyhand, A clan retainer, or hearthguard
The Heels
- Cull Heel, Also known as Cull the Kind
- Yullveig, Wife of Cull, also known as Yullveig the Fierce
- Erta, Daughter of Cull and Yullveig
- Baran, Son of Cull and Yullveig
The Overland Raiders
- Marshal Teal, A Letherii aristocrat
- Enguf the Broad, A Genabackan pirate
- Malle of Gris, A Malazan aristocrat
- Holden of Cawn, A mage of Serc
- Alca of Cat, A mage of Telas
The Sea Raiders
The Sea Strike
- Burl Tardin, Captain
- Whellen, First Mate
- Gaff, Second Mate
The Silver Dawn
- Jute Hernan, Captain
- Ieleen, Navigator, wife of Jute
- Lurjen, Steersman
- Buen, First Mate
- Letita, Master of weapons
- Dulat, A sailor
The Resolute
- Tyvar Gendarian, Commander of the Blue Shields and Mortal Sword of Togg
- Haagen Vantall, Steward of the Blue Shields
The Ragstopper
- Cartheron Crust, Captain
- Orothos, First Mate
The Supplicant
- Timmel Orosenn, Also known as the Primogenitrix, ruler of the island of Umryg
- Velmar, Priest and servant to Lady Orosenn
The T'lan Imass
The Kerluhm
- Ut'el Anag, Bonecaster
- Lanas Tog
The Ifayle
- Tolb Bell'al, Bonecaster
The Kron
- Pran Chole, Bonecaster
The Crimson Guard
- K'azz D'Avore, Commander
- Shimmer, Second-in-command
- Blues, New captain of the Second Company
- Tarkhan, Captain of the Third Company
- Bars, Also known as 'Iron Bars', formerly of the Fourth Company
- Cowl, High Mage and Master Assassin
- Gwynn, A mage
- Petal, A mage
- Black the Elder
- Black the Lesser
- Sept
- Cole
- Amatt
- Lean
- Keel
- Turgal
The Crimson Guard Fourth Company
Of Mael's Greetings
- Ghelath Keer, Master
- Havvin, Ship's pilot
- Levin, Apprentice pilot
Others
- Silverfox, The 'Summoner' created to end the T'lan Imass war
- Luthal Canar, Representative of the Canar trading house, of Lether
- Lyan, A female warrior from north Genabackis, a Shieldmaiden
- Dorrin, King in exile of Anklos, Lyan's ward
- Fisher kel Tath, A well-travelled bard
- Jethiss, A Tiste Andii castaway
- Kilava, Ancient living Bonecaster of the Imass
- Mist, A sorceress
- Anger and Wrath, Mist's sons
- The Sharrs, A mage family
- The Sheers, A mage family
- Giana Jalaz, A former lieutenant in the Malazan army
Notes and References
- ↑ http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/ian+cameron+esslemont/assail/9731626/
- ↑ http://www.transworldbooks.co.uk/editions/city-in-the-jungle-title-tbc/9780593064481
- ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GO9BNSE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3KZP5B8LM9518&coliid=I36Y3JP0JPX0Z8
- ↑ http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/ian-c-esslemont/assail-9780593064481.aspx